Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Random pieces

About a week ago I was accused of drinking while blogging. Alas, it was true. You drink one martini, and you're a martini drinker for life. Geesh! Ease up there. Well anyway, despite the snickers, I'm going forth with my stream-of-conscience connections of things because they are interesting to me. Martini aside. So here it goes and enjoy! Oh! And the {comments} are mine...for fun...'cuz it's fun!1. I love that Turkey's president-elect, Abdullah Gül thinks that the US is an occupier of Iraq. Check this out:

Gül criticized that kind of selective approach [to various types of terrorism] {read: protecting the oil pipelines...cuz it's terrorism, cuz terrorism is scary and economic monkeywrenching isn't}, saying: “If you choose to combat a certain type of terrorism while remaining indifferent to others, that is not understandable. If you are not strong enough to do it, then we call on the US to act in accordance with its responsibilities as an occupier.” {He said it! I heard him say it!} <1>

2. Also, here's a great diddy from some energy futurists out there:

In the post-Iraq War period, the energy issue should also strengthen U.S.-Turkish relations. Turkey's strategic value sometimes comes under doubt. But Turkey is an important route for the export of oil from northern Iraq.{like the long lost soul mates that Bush couldn't find in Putin}<2>

3. And this beauty of an article came from the Seattle Times, but a week ago saying,

While reining in their ambitions just short of independence, the Kurds are moving to expand their territory, take charge of their oil and insulate themselves in a hostile neighborhood. They are looking to Hunt Oil{who are WAY connected and bought a big old chunk of oil rights up in northern Iraq from either the Kurds or the Shiites...no one is sure, but the Kurds are smiling all the way to the bank and back to the arsenal to grab more guns to protect their stuff}and other investors to help them get free of the violence and political paralysis of Baghdad. And they want to do it before U.S. troops leave Iraq. {because we are said aforementioned economic, stabilizing occupier} <3>

4. Oh, and before I forget...one of Hunt Oil's major players is Hon. JeanneL. Phillips. Who's a Busshie fav...organized his first siege of the presidency [inaguration] in record time. Way to go Jeanne! And btw, read her stunning Q + A with the New York Times Magazine and you'll realize that she and Busshie have a lot in common intellectually. 5. Oh, and did I forget that Hunt is buddy buddy with Busshie himself? Check this out:

Many, including officials with other oil companies in Iraq, find it hard to believe that President Bush and Ray Hunt, a longtime supporter, did not talk about this deal before it was signed, or that the Kurdistan Regional Government chose to award a concession to the U.S. company without paying much attention to its political connections with the White House. {is anyone paying attention?}

Bush said at a news conference that the Hunt Oil deal in Iraq was acomplete surprise {snicker, snicker}.Hunt said he has not talked about it with Bush or anyone else {even his dog} in the U.S. government, either before it was signed Sept. 8 or since {in fact, I'm not even talking about it now}.<3>

6.Being on the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board is like a hall pass. Here's what the members are privy to, straight from the White House page:

In carrying out their mandate, the members of the PFIAB enjoy the confidence of the President and have access to all the information related to foreign intelligence that they need to fulfill their vital advisory role.{read: get to know all the good stuff...so, how is this not worse than insider trading? Can someone tell me?}